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The expanded version of GREATEST HITS includes 5 bonus tracks and is newly remastered.
Sam Cooke's death in 1964 left a huge void in the world of soul music not filled until Al Green's breakthrough in the early '70s. Although many great male soul singers came and went in the years following Cooke's death, none came close to the smooth and creamy style that translated to consistent cross-over success. While Otis Redding was gritty and James Brown relentless, in Green's hands, R&B was sophisticated and suave. GREATEST HITS basks in a style of sultry soul that Green inherited from Cooke.
Yet, Green's style owed as much to producer Willie Mitchell's delicate production as it did to the singer's pure falsetto. While not inclined to use the vast numbers of musicians that Phil Spector did, Mitchell's use of James Mitchell (no relation) and Charles Chalmer's string arrangements, the Memphis Horns and the background vocals of Rhodes, Chalmers and Rhodes gave Green's songs a full sound that wrapped itself around Green's aching emotivity. "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" features all these elements at play, along with the crack cadence of former MG drummer Al Jackson and brothers Teenie and Charles Hodges, whose respective guitar and organ juice up the rhythm.
Thematically, listening to GREATEST HITS is like thumbing through a primer on the evolution of a relationship, and the ups and downs that come with it. The despair of "Tired Of Being Alone" gives way to a fleeting affair in "Call Me (Come Back Home)." The joy Green finds in "Love And Happiness" is temporary before the pleading begins anew with "Let's Stay Together," then gets tied up with a declaration ("L-O-V-E (Love)") and a proposal ("Let's Get Married").
Recorded at Royal Recording Studios, Memphis, Tennessee.
Personnel: Al Green (vocals); Andrew Love (tenor); Mabon "Teenie" Hodges (guitar); Ed Logan (tenor saxophone); James Mitchell (baritone saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Jack Hole (trombone); Charles Hodges (piano, organ); Michael Allen, Archie Turner (piano); Al Jackson, Jr. (drums, congas, bongos); Howard Grimes (drums); Charles Rhodes, Rhodes (background vocals).
Audio Remixer: Willie Mitchell.
Recording information: Royal Recording Studios, Memphis, TN (1971-1977).
Photographer: Bob Levy .
Unknown Contributor Role: The Memphis Strings.
Personnel: Al Green (vocals); Teenie Hodges (guitar); The Memphis Strings (strings); Andrew Love, Ed Logan (tenor saxophone); James Mitchell (baritone saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Jack Hale (trombone); Charles Hodges (organ, piano); Archie Turner, Michael Allen (piano); Leroy Hodges (bass); Howard Grimes, Al Jackson (drums, congo, bongo); Rhodes, Chalmers, Rhodes (background vocals).
Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.112) - Ranked #52 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "The honey-voiced Green made some of the most visionary soul music of the Seventies..." Vibe (12/95-1/96, p.160) - "...These 15 body-soothing jams are pure butter....'Let's Stay Together'...is the foundation of the edifice that became his church of love. Green's voice testifies, prophesies, moans, grunts, and downright screams for love, the way some...shout for Jesus..."
Lean On Me You'd think one of his Greatest hits would be Lean On Me! Otherwise I'd give this CD Five Stars. Submitted by a reviewer (Tampa, FL) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
A Great Greatest Hits! Definitely one of the greatest soul artists, that's Al Green. This greatest hits is the better the best of the man! Submitted by srijsdijk (The Netherlands, Europe) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
One of the great ones. This CD of course has to be one of the best R&B singers of all time. Smooth Sultry, Comforting, suave, everything love and soul should be. And of course lean on me is not by Al Green Submitted by a reviewer (Flagstaff, Arizona) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
AL Green His Best CD This is his best work put all together. From the start of the cd you can already tell u will like it. You need to check out this cd, just d/l the one's I am going to tell u that are good songs. The best songs on the cd are #1, 2, 4, 6, 7, & 14. Also the person who said that the "Lean On Me" song is good, it ain't even worthy to go & check that song out. FOR REAL Submitted by a reviewer (Pharr, TX) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Re: Lean On Me The last reviewer should alter their score to 5 out of 5. Lean On Me was recorded by Bill Withers not the Great Al Green. Submitted by a reviewer (Leicestershire, UK) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Lean On Me
A Great Greatest Hits!
One of the great ones.
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